Capo-tasto bar for pianos.



No. 872,487. PATENTBD DEC. 3, 1907. P. WEBER.

GAPO TASTO BAR FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION IILED IA! 24. 1901.

19mm; 3 mm wtoz a a m ma faflox mef UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER WEBER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SOHMER & 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A FIRM.

CAPO-TASTO BAR FOR PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed May 24. 1907. Serial No. 375.394.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER WEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, Queens, county of Queens, State oi New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inCapo-Tasto Bars for Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved means for subdividing from each treble string of a piano an aliquot part of the efl'ectivelength of such string for the purpose of producing harmonic overtones of the fundamental tone and thereby increasing the brilliancy and volume of the latter. This result is accom plished in a simple and effective manner by means of a double bearing capo-tasto bar having a pair of flanges adapted to span a portion of each treble string and press such portion towards the wrest plank.

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1 is a cross section of my improved capo-taste bar showing it applied to a piano; Fig. 2 a face view of the bar 1 Fig. 3 abottom view thereof,

and Fig. 4 an enlarged cross section on line 4-4 Fig. 3.

The capo-tasto bar 5 has a flat body from which extends a front flange 6 and a rear flange 7, both flanges projecting from the bottom of the bar. series of stepped sections 8, 9, 10, 11, each section being in turn subdivided into a number of minor steps 12. The length of each section S-11 is such that it extends across a suitable group of treble strings 13, while each step 12 will accommodate the strings of a single note.

The string plate 14 is provided with a pair of bridges 15, 16, at a distance apart greater than the width of bar 5, such bridges constituting supports for the strings.

Flange 7 is divided into a In assembling the parts, bar 5 is placed across the treble strings intermediate bridges 15, 16, with its flanges 6, 7, bearing against j the strings and facing the string plate.

Screws 17 engaging perforations 18 of bar 5, i

and tapped into the string plate, draw the bar towards the latter and consequently force the strings against the bridges 15, 16, with a pressure that may be readily adjusted.

By the construction described, a portion of each string 13 is freely spanned between the flanges 6, 7, of bar 5 so as to be vibratile intermediateisuch flanges. The length of this spanned portion should be such that it constitutes an aliquot part of the main or effective length of the string, so that it will sound in harmony therewith. This result is obtained by means of the stepped sections 8 to 11, which are so dimensioned that the length of the spanned portion of any one string in either section forms an aliquot part of the efl'ective length of such string. In other words, the portion of any one string between flange 6 and the inner edge of flange 7, forms an aliquot part of such string be tween pin 19 of sounding bridge 20 and bridge 15. Thus, with the construction shown, the spanned portions of the strings engaging steps 8, Q, 10, and 11, formsrespectively 3;, e, and E, of the effective length of such strings.

It will be seen that by the means de scribed, the desired subdivision of the treble strings is accomplished in a simple and effective manner, and that the pressure bar may be readily secured in position, after the stringing of the piano has been completed.

I claim:

1. In a piano, a string plate having a pair of bridges, combined with strings supported thereon, a capo-tasto bar having a pair of flanges resting on the strings, and means for regulating the pressure of the bar against said strings, substantially as specified.

2. In a piano, a capo-tasto bar having a 4 pair of flanges, one of which is stepped, combined with a string engaged by such flanges, said string having a ireely vibratile portion intermediate the flanges, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at New York city, (Queens,) N. Y., this 20th day of May 1907.

PETER \VEBER.

Htnesses:

ALvis LAUX, J. H. THoMPsoN. 

